This is a powerful collection of poems on tough topics, the slave trade, abuse, racism and skin color. I can’t say that I enjoyed this book, but I am glad that I read it. She also makes you think about what poetry means. Here is an excerpt:

“I went back to my room realizing I am afraid` to let go of “poetry.” My writing has been a safe space. I have a boundary around me like that iron belt I feel around my heart when I meditate. When I write a poem I am not just worthless me speaking. I am worthless me speaking as a poet. I am afraid to give up that protection.” ( )

For me, Derricotte's poetry reads more like chopped up prose than poetry. The line breaks matter, but the language itself is so straight-forward and prose-ish that you'd never know they were meant to be poems if you heard them aloud or saw them in paragraph form--rather, they'd feel like very short stories or snippets of thought. And, in my opinion, many of them are also fairly heavy-handed. Simply, this just isn't a poetry collection I'd think to recommend. ( )

I forgot who told me about Toi, but she is exceptional. ( )